Fire that severely burned Warren Co. man ruled accidental

A fire that severely burned a Warren County man started accidentally, authorities say.

The fire started near a couch in the living about 4:35 a.m. Tuesday at 320 Fisher Ferry Road at the Azalea Trace apartments, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

Eddie Rankin, 31, was outside the apartment building making a minor repair to his car before he left for work when he looked up and saw smoke coming from his apartment, Pace said. Rankin ran back inside to help his wife and two kids, but never came back out, Pace said.

Rankin's wife, 23-year-old Brittany, her daughter, 5-year-old Jakylah Chambliss and the couple's son, 2-year-old Elizah Rankin, escaped the fire either through a back window or with Eddie Rankin's help, Pace said.

Deputies arrived at the scene within a few minutes and saw flames coming from the front door and window, Pace said. Because the heat, smoke and flames were too intense for the deputies to go inside, they used the fire extinguishers from their cars and then found a bucket they filled with water. One of the deputies went across the street to the Knights of Columbus, got a hose and used that in an effort to put out the fire, Pace said.

When firefighters arrived, they went inside and found Eddie Rankin in one of the back rooms of the apartment, Pace said. He, along with his son and stepdaughter, were taken to River Region Medical Center. Eddie Rankin was almost immediately flown to the burn center at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Pace said. Elizah Rankin was admitted to the hospital and Chambliss was treated and released. Brittany Rankin didn't suffer any serious injuries, Pace said.

Pace said the entire building was evacuated, but deputies and firefighters were able to contain the fire to Rankin's apartment, which was destroyed.

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